Digital recorder reversible mount for a telephone

ABSTRACT

The digital recorder reversible mount for a telephone encompasses an apparatus which enables the mounting of a portable cellular phone in a manner which provides safety and utility to the user, and provides the user with optional digital sound recording capability, especially for voice recording and messaging. The bracket system is attached to a vehicle dash or console, by any acceptable means, and includes an integrated support for both a cellular telephone and an electronic recorder. The support has a first side and a second side parallel to said first side and defining an aperture extending into said support parallel to said first and second sides where it will be preferably supported by a hinge. The support will include a strike plate affixed to said first side of said bracket support, and the second side will typically be a smooth area. Inside the support, an electronic recorder is contained and manipulable by the user through buttons which enable the recording and playback of audio messages.

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. application Ser. No.08/516,099 filed on Aug. 17, 1995, now Pat. No. 5,583,935.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of support structures used tomount equipment, and, more specifically, to a reversible structureespecially adapted for use inside a vehicle which both provides supportfor a mobile telephone, and also provides a digital sound and voice memocapability for the convenience of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the continuing introduction of user convenient electronics devices,the improvements on the vehicular mobile office continue. For example,in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 08/359,398 now U.S. Pat. No.5,529,271, a reversible mount for a telephone was disclosed. Thereversible mount enabled the mounting of a portable cellular phone withthe use of either a bracket telephone-mount interface or with the use ofa hook and loop fastener interface between the telephone and mount. Thebracket system was attached to a vehicle dash or console, by anyacceptable means. The manner of attachment involved either a pivotinghinge or an attachment bracket having a fixed angle.

The first surface of the bracket support included a strike plate inorder to withstand the wear associated with the mounting of the malemember of the bracket attached to the telephone. The second surface ofthe mount optionally included one of either hook or loop material,preferably of loop members, which engaged a complementary surface ofhook members which may be attached to a portable cellular phone.

It is advantageous to have the ability to record messages in thepassenger compartment of a vehicle, particularly when a telephone ispresent. Not only may the user record ideas, thoughts, and notions whenthey occur, but the user can record and summarize the content oftelephone conversations. However, the presence of independent recordingequipment, which may loosely be carried in the passenger compartment cancause a hazard both because it may undergo movement during driving andmay cause the driver to have to hunt for it when it is needed. Eitherdistraction to the driver can be a source of danger and inconvenience.

What is therefore needed is a recording device which includes theability to independently record messages and memos. Such a device willideally be positionally fixed within the driver compartment andpositioned so that the driver can have easy access. Even more ideally,the recording device should be located in the proximity of the cellularphone so that it can readily be used to record any details of theconversation which are critical. This is especially useful where thecell phone has a speaker which can produce audible sound sufficient toreach a closely mounted microphone associated with the recording device.The recording device should operate independently of the cellulartelephone to give independent value to the vehicle operator during thetimes when the cellular telephone is not present.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Digital Recorder Reversible Mount for a Telephone bracket mountingsystem of the present invention encompasses an apparatus which enablesthe mounting of a portable cellular phone in a manner which providessafety and utility to the user, and provides the user with optionaldigital sound recording capability, especially for voice recording andmessaging. The bracket system is attached to a vehicle dash or console,by any acceptable means.

Physically, the integrated support for both a cellular telephone and anelectronic recorder includes a support having a first side and a secondside parallel to said first side and defining an aperture extending intosaid support parallel to said first and second sides where it will bepreferably supported by a hinge. The support will include a strike plateaffixed to said first side of said bracket support, and the second sidewill typically be a smooth area which facilitates grasping andmanipulation of the lower area of the support.

The strike plate supports a female bracket for holding a cellular phone.Inside the support, an electronic recorder is contained and manipulableby the user through buttons which enable the recording and playback ofaudio messages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will bebest further described in the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the mount of the present inventionattached to a bracket (shown in phantom);

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the mount shown in FIG. 1 and illustratingthe construction thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the mount of FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrating thefemale bracket in a pre-selected position on the face of the mount andover said digital recording device;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the mount of FIGS. 1-3 and illustrating theflush mounting of the control buttons of the digital recording device;

FIG. 5 is a rear plan view of the mount shown in FIGS. 1-4 andillustrating a smooth surface area;

FIG. 6 is a closeup view of the cooperation between a female bracket andmale bracket which occurs with respect to the mounting of FIGS. 1-5; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of the bracket system shown in FIGS. 1-6 andillustrating a cellular phone (in phantom) supported in place on themount, and illustrating the position of the digital sound recorder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The description and operation of the invention will be best describedwith reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a bracket support 25 which ishereafter referred to as support 25. At about the midpoint of thesupport 25 a hinge 27 is shown in phantom and which is insertedpartially into the support 25. The hinge 25 has a pair of apertures 29which are used to secure the support 25 to the hinge 27. The hinge 27 isshown associated with an angled member 31 which may be any surface towhich the hinge 27 is attached. The attachment surface is shown as anangled member 31 in order to show the range of movement which may beexpected of hinge 27 and the support 25. As can be seen in FIG. 1, thesupport 25 may be widely angularly displaced.

The central region of support 25 has a strike plate 33. The strike plate33 supports a female bracket 35. A set of four screws 37 are used tojoin the female bracket 35 to the strike plate 33 by engagement with thematerial within the support 25.

As can be seen, a variety of apertures 39 are available in the strikeplate 33 to accommodate the screws 37 to enable the female bracket 35 tobe mounted at discrete heights along the surface of the strike plate 33.The spacing of the apertures 39 is such that the apertures 39 will alignwith matching apertures in the female bracket 35 which together willenable attachment of the female bracket 35 to the bracket support 25.

Near the lower surface of the support 25, a number of features are seen.At the lower left side of the support 25 microphone aperture 41 islocated above a play button 43. At the lower right side of the support25, a record indicator light aperture 45 is located above a recordbutton 47. Centrally located with respect to the microphone aperture 41,play button 43, record indicator light aperture 45, and record button47, is a speaker grille 49 which is shown as a row and column array ofsmall apertures formed to enable an internally mounted speaker toproduce adequate sound exterior to the support 25.

Referring to FIG. 2, an exploded view of the support 25 of FIG. 1illustrates a base housing portion 51, an upper housing portion 53, anda compact digital electronic recording unit 55 which will be sandwichedbetween the upper housing portion 53 and the base housing portion 51.The electronic recording unit 55 supports the record button 47 and theplay button 43. As can be seen on the upper housing portion 53, therecord button 47 will extend partially into a record button aperture 57,while the play button 43 will extend partially into a play buttonaperture 59.

The electronic recording unit 55 is available in the form of a circuitboard 61 mounted device supporting, in addition to the play and recordbuttons 43 and 47, a microphone 63, speaker 65, and a record light 67.The electronic recording unit 55 will preferably be self powered andwill preferably have changeable batteries.

In the base housing portion 51, a recording unit accommodation space 69has a pair of alignment structures 71 which not only assist the upperhousing portion 53 to interfit with the base housing portion 51, butalso stabilize and fix the electronic recording unit 55 within theaccommodation space 69. The exterior of the alignment structures 71 (aswell as structures carried by the upper housing portion 53 which matewith the alignment structures 71) will fit partially into oppositelydisposed opposing cut-outs 73 on the circuit board 61. Preferably, theelectronic recording unit 55 can be first mounted into either one of theupper or base housing portions 53 or 51 to achieve an assembled support25.

Note also that the upper housing portion 53 has a series of downwardlyand outwardly directed locking tabs 75 which are dispersed about theperiphery of the upper housing portion 53. The downwardly and outwardlydirected locking tabs align with a mating set of locking slots 77dispersed about points near the periphery of the base housing portion51. These locking tabs 75 and locking slots 77 can be of such design tocompletely hold the upper housing portion 53 completely locked onto thebase housing portion 51, without the need for further joiningstructures.

Also seen is a lower hinge groove 81 formed with respect to the basehousing portion 51, and an upper hinge groove 83 formed with respect tothe upper housing portion 53. for joining. The upper hinge groove 81 isformed behind a pair of upper housing groove apertures 85 which alignwith the apertures 29 of the hinge 25. The base housing portion 51 has apair of bores 87 which will accommodate screws used to join the hinge 27to the mount 25. The apertures 85 and 87 may be formed to engage screwsused to join the mount 25 to the hinge 27. The details of attachmentwill depend upon the materials used and the specific details of thehardware involved.

Also can be seen apertures 89 in the female bracket 35, through whichthe screws 37 extend to secure the female bracket 35 to the strike plate33. The strike plate 33 may be adhesively attached to the face of theupper housing portion 53. Alternatively, the strike plate 33 may bepresent while the upper housing portion 53 is formed, as by injectionmolding. In this event, the strike plate 33 will be somewhat surroundedby the material of the upper housing portion 53, to "lock" the strikeplate into place.

Referring to FIG. 3, a plan view of the front of the support 25illustrates many of the structures previously shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.This is the most detailed view and more closely associated with the viewwhich a user will have during use of the compact digital electronicrecording unit 55. The user can simply press the record button 47,perhaps holding it down, and speaking in the direction of the mount 25.A recording of the user's voice will be made inside the compact digitalelectronic recording unit 55 and held for playback. During recording,the recording light 67 is typically seen through the record indicatorlight aperture 45 to indicate that the unit is recording.

After recording, the play button 43 may be depressed to play back therecorded message through the speaker 65. The unit illustrated is simplein operation, and it is understood that other capabilities can beutilized, including multiple message memory selection both by individualkey as well as by a sequential selection of the messages to be playedback.

Referring to FIG. 4, a side view of support 25 illustrates the bilateralsymmetry of the support 25. The line which demarks the base housingportion 51 from the upper housing portion 53 is readily seen. Thealignment of the lower hinge groove 81 and the upper hinge groove 83 isseen. The resulting slot will accommodate the hinge 27 which was shownin FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, a rear view of the support 25 is shown. The lowerhinge groove 81 is shown in phantom.

Referring to FIG. 6, a male and female bracket set 55 includes thefemale bracket 35 shown in FIGS. 1-5, but also shows one configurationof a male bracket 95. Although any number of different types of malebrackets could interfit with the female bracket 35, the male bracket 95is shown is comprised of an upper planar portion 97 which is offset butparallel to a lower planar portion 99. The male bracket 95 is preferablymade from a single piece of material which is sharply angled about itsmidpoint. In the configuration shown, the upper planar portion 97 wouldbe affixed to a portable cellular phone while the lower planar portion99 would be fittable into the female bracket 35 in a manner shown by thedashed line.

Note that the male bracket 95 may be turned over its horizontal axis andthat the upper planar portion 97 and the lower planar portion 99 willhave switched position. Referring to FIG. 7, the completed mountingarrangement with respect to bracket support 25 is shown, including aportable cellular phone 101, which is shown in phantom. To the rear faceof the cellular phone 101 a thickness of adhesive 103 attaches the bodyof cellular phone 101 to the upper planar portion 97 of the male bracket95. The lower portion 99 of the male bracket 95 is secured between thestrike plate 33 and the inside surface of the female bracket 35.Therefore to remove the cellular phone 101, the cellular phone 101 needonly be grasped and moved upwardly in a direction parallel to thesupport 25.

The advantages of the configuration shown in FIG. 7 include ease ofhandling, safety, prevention of the cellular phone 101 from falling offof the bracket support, even under the most severe movement of thevehicle in which the cellular phone 101 is mounted. Further, theelectronic recording unit 55 is seen located in close proximity to thecellular telephone 101 to enable the unit 55 to pick up audio from thetelephone 101. Where the telephone 101 is wired for speaker phoneoperation, the electronic recording unit 55 will be readily available topick up full conversations. When the user wishes, he only need press therecord button 47 to record a short message, whether the cellular phone101 is in use or not.

While the present invention has been described in terms of a bracketsupport with an integrated digital recorder, one skilled in the art willrealize that the structure and techniques of the present invention canbe applied to many appliances. The present invention may be applied inany situation where good, sturdy support is desired, along with theability to independently provide electronic conveniences, such as theenablement of digital electronic recording and playback.

Although the invention has been derived with reference to particularillustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of theinvention may become apparent to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore,included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes andmodifications as may reasonably and properly be included within thescope of this contribution to the art.

What is claimed:
 1. An integrated support for both a cellular telephoneand an electronic recorder comprising:a support having a first side anda second side parallel to said first side and defining an apertureextending into said support parallel to said first and second sides; astrike plate affixed to said first side of said support; a femalebracket affixed to said strike plate, said female bracket beingtranslatable with respect to said strike plate such that the femalebracket may be disposed in a variable fixed position to accommodate aparticular cellular telephone; and an electronic recorder cartridgeslidably engageable to said support.
 2. The support recited in claim 1wherein said electronic recorder has a record button and a play button,and wherein said first side of said support defines a record buttonaperture into which said record button extends, and a play buttonaperture into which said play button extends.
 3. The support recited inclaim 2 wherein said electronic recorder has a record light and whereinsaid first side of said support defines a record light aperture throughwhich light from said record light passes.
 4. The support recited inclaim 1 wherein said strike plate has a plurality of apertures and saidfemale bracket has mounting holes in alignment with said apertures andfurther comprising mounting screws engaging said mounting holes throughsaid apertures and to said support.
 5. The support recited in claim 1wherein said female bracket defines a main surface in a first plane andwherein said female bracket has a pair of mounting surfaces in a secondplane parallel to said first plane, and each of the mounting surfacesbeing oppositely disposed with respect to said main surface.
 6. Thesupport recited in claim 5 wherein said female bracket is formed from asingle piece of material.
 7. The support recited in claim 5 wherein saidsupport is vertically oblong and where said female bracket forms avertically extending open ended aperture with respect to said strikeplate.
 8. The support recited in claim 1 wherein said support furthercomprises:a base housing portion defining an accommodation space forcontaining said electronic recorder, and having a plurality of lockingstructures; and an upper housing portion fittable with said base housingportion and having a plurality of locking structures interlockable withsaid locking structures of said base housing portion.
 9. The supportrecited in claim 8 wherein said plurality of locking structures of saidbase housing portion are locking slots and wherein said plurality oflocking structures of said upper housing portion fittable with saidlocking slots are locking tabs.
 10. The support of claimed furthercomprising a cellular telephone support and electronic recorder kitincluding a male bracket interfitting with said female bracket andattachable to a cellular telephone.
 11. The kit of claim 10 furthercomprising a hinge interfittable with the aperture of said support. 12.The kit of claim 11 wherein said support pivots on the hinge along aplanar moment of angular displacement about a line parallel to a sidesof said support.
 13. The kit of claim 10 wherein said male bracket has afirst planar surface and a second planar surface parallel to and setapart from said first planar surface.
 14. An integrated support for botha cellular telephone and an electronic recorder comprising:a supporthaving a first side and a second side parallel to said first side anddefining an aperture extending into said support parallel to said firstand second sides; a strike plate affixed to said first side of saidsupport; a female bracket affixed to said strike plate, said femalebracket having a main surface in a first plane, said female bracketfurther having a pair of mounting surfaces in a second plane parallel tosaid first plane, and each of the mounting surfaces being oppositelydisposed with respect to said main surface; and an electronic recordercartridge slidably engageable to said support.
 15. The support recitedin claim 14 wherein said electronic recorder cartridge has a recordbutton and a play button, and wherein said first side of said supportdefines a record button aperture into which said record button extends,and a play button aperture into which said play button extends.
 16. Thesupport recited in claim 15 wherein said electronic recorder cartridgehas a record light and wherein said first side of said support defines arecord light aperture through which light from said record light passes.17. The support recited in claim 14 wherein said strike plate has aplurality of apertures and said female bracket has mounting holes inalignment with said apertures and further comprising mounting screwsengaging said mounting holes through said apertures and to said support.18. The support recited in claim 14 wherein said female bracket isformed from a single piece of material.
 19. The support recited in claim14 wherein said bracket is vertically oblong and where said femalebracket forms a vertically extending open ended aperture with respect tosaid strike plate.
 20. The support recited in claim 14 wherein saidsupport further comprises:a base housing portion defining anaccommodation space for containing said electronic recorder cartridge,and having a plurality of locking structures; and an upper housingportion fittable with said base housing portion and having a pluralityof locking structures interlockable with said locking structures of saidbase housing portion.
 21. The support recited in claim 20 wherein saidplurality of locking structures of said base housing portion are lockingslots and wherein said plurality of locking structures of said upperhousing portion fittable with said locking slots are locking tabs. 22.The support recited in claim 14 wherein the female bracket istranslatable along the surface of the strike plate.